JP4770488B2 - Inkjet printer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet printer, and more specifically, an ink jet that records a plurality of dots by ejecting ink from a plurality of nozzles in a bidirectional movement process in the forward path and the return path along the main scanning direction that intersects the conveyance direction of the recording medium. Regarding printers.

  In an ink jet printer that records a plurality of dots by ejecting ink from a plurality of nozzles in a bidirectional movement process in the forward and backward directions along the main scanning direction that intersects the conveyance direction of the recording medium, the ink ejection speed is limited. In principle, it takes a long time to reach the recording medium after the ink is ejected, and because the recording head is moving in the main scanning direction, etc., the forward path of the ink ejected from the recording head in principle. There is a problem that the landing position on the return path is shifted. Unless the landing positions of the ink forward path and the return path are matched, dots are not formed at positions where they should be originally formed, and a good image cannot be recorded.

  Therefore, in order to obtain a high-quality print, it is necessary to correct the deviation of the landing positions of the ink ejected from the nozzles of the recording head in the forward path and the backward path.

  Conventionally, Patent Document 1 describes that a test pattern based on a normal dither matrix is output in order to adjust a deviation in ink ejection timing of the recording head in the forward path and the backward path.

  In Patent Document 2, in order to adjust the deviation of the ink ejection timing of the recording head in the forward path and the backward path, different test patterns are output for each mode such as the sampling mode, the actual image mode, the selected color mode, and the character mode. It is described that an adjustment value is set for each mode.

  Patent Document 3 describes that a patch-like pattern is output in order to adjust a deviation in ink ejection timing of the recording head in the forward path and the backward path.

  In Patent Document 4, in order to adjust the deviation of the ink ejection timing of the recording head in the forward path and the backward path, an adjustment value of deviation is set for at least two types of dots among a plurality of types of dots, for example, small dots and medium dots. Is obtained, and the shift is adjusted using an adjustment value for one kind of dot selected from these two kinds of dots.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-228561 describes that the deviation of the ink ejection timing of the recording head in the forward path and the backward path is automatically adjusted by obtaining a difference in timing when the carriage is reciprocated.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-260260 describes that the head temperatures of a plurality of recording heads are detected, and the ink ejection timing deviation correction is performed based on the head temperatures.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-228667 describes that the deviation of the ink ejection timing in the forward path and the backward path is corrected according to the information regarding the thickness of the recording medium.

Patent Document 8 describes that the ink ejection timings in the forward path and the backward path are different between a text image and a natural image other than the text image, for example.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-48587 JP 2002-225248 A JP 2001-334654 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-334055 JP-A-9-226198 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-77991 JP 2000-198189 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-255806

  In general, in an ink jet printer that records an image by ejecting ink during a bidirectional movement process in the forward path and the return path, the graph in FIG. 6 depends on the characteristics (wiring resistance, crosstalk, etc.) of the recording head, cable, and drive circuit. As shown in FIG. 5, it has been confirmed that the ink speed tends to decrease slightly when the number of nozzles is larger than when the number of nozzles ejecting ink from the recording head at the same timing is small.

  Accordingly, even if ink is ejected when the recording head is at the same position, as shown in FIG. 16, if the number of nozzles ejecting ink at the same timing is small in the forward path, the ink speed is relatively high. When the number of nozzles reaches the position A on the recording medium and the number of nozzles is medium, the number of nozzles reaches the position B, and when the number of nozzles is large, the ink speed is relatively slow. Land at position C on the medium. On the other hand, for the same reason, when the number of nozzles ejecting ink at the same timing is small in the return path, the ink lands at the position C ′ on the recording medium, and when the number of nozzles is medium, B on the recording medium. When landing at the position 'and there are a large number of nozzles, it will land at the position A' on the recording medium.

  Here, in order to adjust the deviation of the bi-directional landing position, for example, when the return landing position C ′ when the number of nozzles is small is adjusted so as to match the outgoing landing position A, the number of nozzles is medium. If the number of nozzles is large, the two-way landing positions B ′ and A ′ are not matched. If the number of nozzles that eject ink at the same timing is large and small, it varies depending on the image, so that the landing position shifts depending on the output image.

  For this reason, when high-quality prints are required for various images, it is desirable to adjust the landing positions in the forward path and the return path for each recording mode and each image (focused on the point of interest).

  That is, when improving the image quality of an image that emphasizes sharpness such as a geometric image (particularly a line parallel to the nozzle array of the head) in which the number of nozzles that eject ink at the same timing is relatively large. For example, when there are a large number of nozzles that eject ink at the same timing, it is desired to adjust the bidirectional landing positions on the forward path and the return path, while the number of nozzles that eject ink at the same timing is relatively small. In order to improve the image quality of an image that emphasizes granularity such as a natural image, it is desirable to adjust the bi-directional landing positions on the forward path and the return path when the number of nozzles is small.

  In Patent Document 2, the adjustment value of the ink ejection timing is set using the test pattern for each mode. However, adjusting the bi-directional landing position for each individual image is for adjusting the landing position. Since it is necessary to calculate the adjustment value by outputting the chart one by one, and it also takes consumables when outputting the chart for each image. Met.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to simplify the adjustment work of the deviation of the bidirectional landing position for each of a plurality of recording modes in an ink jet printer that records an image by ejecting ink in a bidirectional movement process in the forward path and the backward path. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet printer that can output high-quality prints in various images while reducing the user's troublesomeness.

  Other problems of the present invention will become apparent from the following description.

  The above problems are solved by the following inventions.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a recording head capable of recording a plurality of dots by ejecting ink from a plurality of nozzles in a bidirectional movement process in the forward path and the return path along the main scanning direction intersecting with the conveyance direction of the recording medium. And a chart recording means for recording a landing position adjustment chart by ejecting ink from the nozzles and recording dots during the bidirectional movement of the recording head in the forward path and the backward path, and the landing position adjustment chart. based on the adjustment value of the landing position determined by the user using, and an adjustable landing position adjusting means landing positions of the ink in at least one of the forward or backward of the recording head, a plurality of said recording head Recording in the first recording mode in which the number of nozzles that eject ink at the same timing among the nozzles is relatively large, and a plurality of nozzles of the recording head Out of a ink-jet printer capable of recording and is the second recording mode the number of nozzles for ejecting a relatively small and at the same time, the chart recording means, said first recording mode and said second A chart for adjusting the landing position in at least one of the recording modes can be recorded, and a chart for adjusting the landing position in any one of the first recording mode and the second recording mode When the landing position adjustment value determined by the user is received by the landing position adjusting means, the landing position adjustment value in another recording mode is calculated based on the received landing position adjustment value. An ink jet printer characterized by having automatic landing position setting means that can be determined and set.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet recording apparatus according to the first aspect, further comprising selection means for selecting whether or not the landing position adjustment value in another recording mode is automatically set by the landing position automatic setting means. It is a printer.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided distance detection means for detecting a distance between the nozzle surface of the recording head and the recording medium, and the landing position automatic setting means adjusts the landing position in another recording mode. 3. The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein when the value is obtained, a distance between a nozzle surface of the recording head and the recording medium is included as a parameter.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a head temperature detecting means for detecting a head temperature of the recording head or its surrounding temperature, and the landing position automatic setting means obtains an adjustment value of the landing position in another recording mode. 4. The ink jet printer according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the recording head detected by the head temperature detecting means or the temperature around the recording head is included as a parameter.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided ink temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the ink, and the landing position automatic setting means determines the landing temperature adjustment value in another recording mode when the ink temperature detection means is used. an ink jet printer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises a temperature of the ink is detected as a parameter by.

  According to the present invention, in an ink jet printer that records an image by ejecting ink during a bidirectional movement process in the forward path and the backward path, it is possible to simplify the adjustment work of the bidirectional landing position deviation for each of a plurality of recording modes. It is possible to provide an ink jet printer that can output high-quality prints in various images while reducing the user's troublesomeness.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a main part showing an example of an ink jet printer according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration thereof.

  A recording head 1 is mounted on a carriage 2 that is slidable along a guide rail 3. The recording head 1 includes a plurality of heads 1a to 1d to which ink is supplied from ink cartridges (not shown) of each color such as YMCK, for example.

  The carriage 2 is mounted by reciprocating along the AA ′ direction (main scanning direction) in FIG. 1 by a main scanning motor 12 driven by the main scanning drive driver 11 shown in FIG. The recording head 1 is moved in both directions along the main scanning direction.

  The recording medium P is placed on the conveyance belt 5 that is stretched around the four rollers 4a to 4d. The transport belt 5 is driven by a sub-scanning drive driver 13 shown in FIG. 2, and the sub-scanning motor 14 rotates the roller 4a, for example, so that the B-direction (sub-scanning direction) in FIG. , And the recording medium P placed thereon is intermittently conveyed by a predetermined amount in the B direction.

  Although not shown, each of the heads 1a to 1d of the recording head 1 has a plurality of nozzles arranged along the sub-scanning direction on the surface facing the recording medium P below the head. The liquid droplets are ejected onto the recording medium P. The number of heads of the recording head 1 is four here, but is not limited at all.

  The image data recorded by the recording head 1 is temporarily stored in the reception buffer memory 15 from the host computer 100 shown in FIG. The stored image data is sent from the reception buffer memory 15 to the image buffer 16 according to a command from the system controller 10 that controls each control of the printer, and is rearranged into data suitable for recording. The recording head 1 drives image data from a plurality of nozzles during the reciprocating movement along the main scanning direction by the system controller 10 driving the head driving driver 17 under predetermined driving conditions in accordance with the data in the image buffer 16. Ink is ejected onto the recording medium P at a predetermined color and at a predetermined timing. Then, the ink ejection during the reciprocating movement of the recording head 1 along the main scanning direction and the intermittent movement of the recording medium P along the sub-scanning direction are sequentially repeated on the recording medium P. A desired image is continuously recorded.

  A linear encoder 6 is disposed in the vicinity of the carriage 2 in parallel with the main scanning direction, and pulses are detected when the carriage 2 reciprocates by an encoder sensor 7 provided on the carriage 2. The pulse signal detected by the encoder sensor 7 is sent to the system controller 10 to detect the direction and position of the carriage 2 along the main scanning direction.

  The ink jet printer according to the present invention enables image recording in a plurality of recording modes, and any one of the plurality of recording modes is selected and set. The selection and setting of the recording mode may be performed, for example, by the user performing input setting operation using the input unit 18 shown in FIG. 2, or automatically selected and analyzed by analyzing the recorded image data. It may be set. Further, it can be automatically selected and set in conjunction with the type of recording medium P used.

  Image recording by the recording head 1 is performed according to the recording mode selected and set in this way.

  The plurality of recording modes are preferably a plurality of recording modes related to the image quality in the present invention, since a small number of nozzles that eject ink at the same timing affects the image quality. Examples of such modes include a mode that prioritizes image sharpness and a mode that prioritizes image graininess. Here, the mode that prioritizes the sharpness of the image is “mode 1”, and the mode that prioritizes the graininess of the image is “mode 2”. “Mode 1” is a mode in which the number of nozzles ejecting ink at the same timing is relatively large, and “mode 2” is a mode in which the number of nozzles ejecting ink at the same timing is relatively small.

  The input unit 18 is arbitrary as long as various input setting operations can be performed. For example, the input unit 18 may be a touch panel type input unit.

  The main memory 19 shown in FIG. 2 stores driving data 19a and 19b (see FIG. 3) in each of these modes 1 and 2. The system controller 10 calls the driving data for any recording mode selected by the user from the main memory 19 to control the head driving driver 17 in a driving mode corresponding to the recording mode.

  Next, a configuration related to the adjustment of the landing position will be described.

  The adjustment of the landing position in the ink jet printer is performed by recording a landing position adjustment chart and confirming it by the user. The landing position adjustment chart is recorded by ejecting ink on the forward path and the return path of the recording head 1 to form a predetermined pattern image.

  FIG. 3 shows the internal configuration of the main memory 19, and chart data 19 c and 19 d for recording a landing position adjustment chart corresponding to each recording mode are stored in the main memory 19 in advance. Here, the mode 1 chart data 19c is data for recording a landing position adjustment chart for "mode 1" that prioritizes image sharpness, and the mode 2 chart data 19d is image graininess. This is data for recording a landing position adjustment chart for “mode 2” that gives priority to the above.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 4A, the mode 1 chart data 19c includes a chart No. 1 in which the ink ejection timings in the forward path and the backward path of the recording head 1 are slightly different from each other. It consists of eight data D1 to D8 of 1 to 8. The chart data 19c for mode 1 is data in which the number of nozzles ejecting ink at the same timing from the nozzle row of the recording head 1 is relatively large. For example, as shown in FIG. And the return path are recorded on the recording medium P as thin straight lines parallel to each other in the sub-scanning direction. In FIG. 5A, L1 is a straight line recorded on the forward path, and L2 is a straight line recorded on the return path.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4B, for example, the mode 2 chart data 19d includes a chart No. 1 in which the ink ejection timings in the forward path and the backward path of the recording head 1 are slightly different from each other. It consists of eight data d1 to d8 of 1 to 8. The chart data 19d for mode 2 is data in which the number of nozzles ejecting ink at the same timing from the nozzle row of the recording head 1 is relatively small. For example, as shown in FIG. And the return path are recorded on the recording medium P as thin straight lines inclined obliquely with respect to the sub-scanning direction. In FIG. 5B, L1 is a straight line recorded on the forward path, and L2 is a straight line recorded on the return path.

  In any of these recording mode charts, Chart No. In Nos. 1 to 8, since the ink discharge timings are slightly different between the forward path and the backward path, the ink landing positions are different, and the recording positions of the straight line L1 recorded on the forward path and the straight line L2 recorded on the backward path are slightly positioned. It is shifted. The user confirms the landing position adjustment chart, and inputs the chart number at which the positions of the straight line L1 of the forward path and the straight line L2 of the backward path coincide with each other by, for example, input setting operation from the input unit 18, thereby Adjust the landing position.

  For example, in the landing position adjustment chart for “mode 1” in FIG. 4, since the position of the straight line L1 on the forward path and the straight line L2 on the backward path match, when the user sets the chart number “4” by the input unit 18, the system controller 10 displays the chart No. 4 data D4 is stored (rewritten) as a landing position adjustment mode 1 adjustment value 19e in the main memory 19. Thereafter, when the recording mode is selected as “mode 1”, the system controller 10 calls the mode 1 adjustment value 19e from the main memory 19 to thereby eject ink in the forward and backward paths of the recording head 1 in “mode 1”. The timing will be controlled.

  Such landing position adjustment chart output and adjustment value input setting are executed for each of the plurality of heads 1a to 1d (each ink color).

  In FIG. 2, the landing position adjustment value calculation unit 20 inputs a chart number by the user using the landing position adjustment chart in one of the recording modes “mode 1” and “mode 2”. When the landing position adjustment value corresponding to the set landing position is stored (rewritten) in the main memory 19, other values are set based on the landing position adjustment value (mode 1 adjustment value 19e or mode 2 adjustment value 19f). The adjustment value (mode 2 adjustment value 19f or mode 1 adjustment value 19e) of the landing position in the recording mode is calculated.

  FIG. 6 is a graph showing the relationship between the initial ejection speed of ink from the nozzles and the number of nozzles ejected at the same timing. From this graph, it can be seen that the initial ejection speed of ink decreases as the number of nozzles ejected at the same timing increases.

  Calculation of the adjustment value of the landing position is performed based on the data of this graph. For example, when the mode 1 adjustment value 19e in “mode 1” in which the number of nozzles ejected at the same timing is relatively large is set by the user, “mode 2” in which the number of nozzles ejected at the same timing is relatively small. The adjustment value of the landing position at a predetermined calculation is based on the value of the mode 1 adjustment value 19e and the difference Δv between the discharge initial speed value in “mode 1” and the discharge initial speed value in “mode 2”. It is obtained according to the formula. The adjustment value of the landing position in “mode 2” calculated here is newly stored (rewritten) in the mode 2 adjustment value 19f in the main memory 19.

  Next, the operation at the time of landing position adjustment in such an ink jet printer will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, when outputting the landing position adjustment chart as shown in FIG. 5, the user determines whether the landing position in the recording mode “mode 1” or “mode 2” set as the recording mode is adjusted. (S1).

  For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the landing position adjustment chart for each recording mode is displayed on the input unit 18 by selecting a landing position adjustment chart selection screen 18a or “mode 2 chart”. This can be set by operating the “chart” selection switch 18b.

  The system controller 10 retrieves the chart data 19c, 19d of any selected recording mode from the main memory 19 (S2), and controls the head drive driver 17 based on the data, so that the nozzles of the recording head 1 can be controlled. The ink is ejected, and the landing position adjustment chart shown in FIG. 5A or 5B is output for each of the heads 1a to 1d (S3).

  Thereafter, the output landing position adjustment chart is confirmed by the user, and the chart number in which the landing positions match in the forward path and the backward path is input from the input unit 18 by the user. For example, when “mode 1” is selected in the above step S1, and the landing position adjustment chart shown in FIG. 4, for example, in the number input switch 18 c on the adjustment value input setting screen of the input unit 18 as shown in FIG. 9, the switch “4” is input by the user.

  The system controller 10 receives the chart No. of the chart data for mode 1 shown in FIG. 4 data D4 is stored (rewritten) as the mode 1 adjustment value 19e of the main memory 19 (S4). As a result, the ink jet printer can output a high-quality print in which the landing position is corrected and the ink ejection timing is optimized in the “mode 1” recording mode.

  In step S4, when the mode 1 adjustment value is input from the input unit 18, the input unit 18 also automatically adjusts the adjustment value of another recording mode, here "mode 2", as shown in FIG. A display for confirming to the user whether or not to set is performed, and input setting from the user is awaited (S5).

  Here, when “Yes” is input from the user by, for example, the selection switch 18d on the screen display, the system controller 10 sets the mode 1 adjustment value 19e input and set by the user and “ Based on the difference Δv between the initial discharge speed value in “mode 1” and the initial discharge speed value in “mode 2”, an adjustment value for mode 2 is calculated according to a predetermined arithmetic expression, and the adjustment value for mode 2 is calculated. Then, it is newly stored (rewritten) in the mode 2 adjustment value 19f in the main memory 19 (S6). As a result, in the recording mode of “mode 2”, the ink jet printer outputs the landing position adjustment chart without performing troublesome operations such as inputting and setting the landing position adjustment charts one after another. It is possible to output a high-quality print in which is corrected appropriately.

  That is, according to this ink jet printer, in any one of the plurality of recording modes, by simply outputting the landing position adjustment chart and inputting and setting the adjustment value of the landing position in the recording mode, The adjustment value of the landing position in other recording modes is also automatically set and adjusted based on the input set adjustment value, so that the user can always increase the landing position without any troublesome work. You will be able to get quality prints.

  In the above step S5, when “No” is selected and input by the user by the selection switch 18d on the screen display of the input unit 18, the adjustment value of “mode 2” is the case of “mode 1”. Similarly to the above, if the landing position adjustment chart is output and adjusted, a high-quality print in which the ink ejection timing is optimized can be output for “mode 2”. Although it is not essential in the present invention that the user can select a setting for not performing automatic adjustment of the landing position using the input screen as shown in FIG. 10 as in step S5, this configuration is provided. Thus, it becomes possible to adopt an output mode according to the user's preference, and the usability of the printer can be improved.

  FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the ink jet printer according to the present invention. Since the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 2 indicate the same configuration, the description thereof is omitted here.

  In this embodiment, a temperature detection sensor 21 and a gap detection sensor 22 are provided, and respective detection signals are transmitted to the system controller 10.

  The temperature detection sensor 21 is a sensor that detects the head temperature of the recording head 1 or its surrounding temperature. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the temperature detection sensor 21 can be provided on a carriage 2 on which the recording head 1 is mounted. It is also preferable that the temperature detection sensor 21 is provided individually for each of the plurality of heads 1a to 1d of the recording head 1 so that the head temperature for each of the heads 1a to 1d or the surrounding temperature can be detected. In this case, it is preferable to provide the temperature detection sensor 21 so as to contact the heads 1a to 1d.

  It is known that the initial ejection speed of the ink ejected from the nozzles of the recording head 1 increases as the temperature increases, as shown in FIG. This is because the ink viscosity decreases as the ink temperature increases. For this reason, the ink landing position is also affected by the ink temperature.

  In this embodiment, the landing position adjustment value calculation unit 20 calculates the landing position adjustment value in another recording mode for which the landing position adjustment chart is not output based on the adjustment value of the recording mode input and set by the user. In this case, the head temperature of the recording head 1 detected by the temperature detection sensor 21 or the ambient temperature is included as a parameter. Accordingly, it is possible to output a high-quality print that is hardly affected by the head temperature of the recording head 1 or the surrounding temperature.

  The temperature detection sensor 21 is not limited to one that detects the head temperature of the recording head 1 or the surrounding temperature, but is provided inside the recording head 1 (each head 1a to 1d), thereby controlling the temperature of the ink itself immediately before ejection. You may make it detect. By detecting the ink temperature, it becomes possible to detect the ink temperature more accurately, and it is possible to output a high-quality print in which the adjustment value of the landing position is less affected by the ink temperature.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the gap detection sensor 22 is a sensor that detects a gap distance g between the nozzle surface 1A on which the nozzles of the recording head 1 are arranged and the surface of the recording medium P. It can be provided on the carriage 2 on which the head 1 is mounted.

  The gap detection sensor 22 may have any configuration as long as the gap distance g between the nozzle surface 1A and the surface of the recording medium P can be detected. For example, if a reflective optical sensor is used, The distance g can be easily detected without any risk of damaging the recording medium P in a non-contact manner.

  As shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, the landing positions of the ink ejected from the nozzles of the recording head 1 are the nozzle surface 1A and the recording media P1 for the thin recording medium P1 and the thick recording medium P2. Since the gap distances g1 and g2 between P2 and P2 are different, the positions of the inks dt1 and dt2 that have landed on the surface are different between the forward path and the return path. For this reason, the ink landing position is also affected by the gap distance g.

  In this embodiment, the landing position adjustment value calculation unit 20 calculates the landing position adjustment value in another recording mode for which the landing position adjustment chart is not output based on the adjustment value of the recording mode input and set by the user. In this case, the gap distance g detected by the gap detection sensor 22 is also included as a parameter. Therefore, high quality which is not easily affected by the gap distance g, corresponding to the case where the thickness of the recording medium P to be used is different or the printer which can move the platen position where the recording medium P is placed up and down. Can be printed.

  In this embodiment, it is preferable to provide both the temperature detection sensor 21 and the gap detection sensor 22 because the landing position can be adjusted more accurately and higher quality prints can be output. However, only one of them may be provided.

  In each of the embodiments described above, the mode for giving priority to the sharpness of the image (mode 1) and the mode for giving priority to the graininess of the image (mode 2) are exemplified as the recording modes. Any mode may be used as long as it includes a mode in which the number of nozzles for ejecting the nozzle is relatively large and a mode in which the number of nozzles is relatively small.

  In addition, although two types of recording modes, “mode 1” and “mode 2”, are exemplified, the recording mode may be three or more types.

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, the adjustment value of the landing position in the other recording mode is obtained by calculating with a predetermined arithmetic expression, but the adjustment value of one recording mode input and set by the user, When a table in which an adjustment value of another recording mode corresponding to the adjustment value is associated in advance is set and an adjustment value of one recording mode is input and set by the user, the adjustment of another recording mode is performed from the table. The value may be called automatically.

  In each of the embodiments described above, the ink landing position is adjusted by adjusting the position along the main scanning direction of the carriage 2 detected by the encoder sensor 7 as the ink discharge timing. It is not limited. For example, the ink landing position can be adjusted by adjusting the ink ejection speed from the nozzles. Therefore, in this case, data for varying the ink ejection speed may be set as chart data in each mode shown in FIG.

  The ink ejection speed can be adjusted, for example, by adjusting the voltage value of the drive signal supplied to the recording head 1. Further, in the case of using a trapezoidal wave as shown in FIG. 15 as the drive signal supplied to the recording head 1, the ink ejection speed can be changed by changing the slope of the rising signal Pa. In the case of a simple driving signal, it may be performed by adjusting the rising time ta of the rising signal Pa.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a main part showing an example of an inkjet printer according to the present invention. The block diagram which shows the internal structure of the inkjet printer which concerns on this invention Conceptual diagram showing the internal configuration of the main memory Diagram showing chart data (A) (b) is a figure which shows an example of the chart for landing position adjustment, respectively Graph showing the relationship between the number of nozzles that eject ink at the same timing and the initial ejection speed Flow chart showing landing position adjustment operation The figure which shows an example of the selection screen of the chart for landing position adjustment The figure which shows an example of the input screen of the adjustment value of a landing position The figure which shows an example of the input screen of automatic adjustment of the landing position The block diagram which shows the other internal structure of the inkjet printer which concerns on this invention Side view of carriage with gap detection sensor Graph showing the relationship between temperature and initial discharge speed (A) and (b) are diagrams showing the relationship between the thickness of the recording medium and the landing position of the ink. Diagram showing an example of drive waveform Diagram showing the relationship between the number of nozzles that eject ink at the same timing and the landing position

Explanation of symbols

1: Recording head 1A: Nozzle surface 2: Carriage 3: Guide rails 4a to 4d: Rollers 5: Conveying belt 6: Linear encoder 7: Encoder sensor 10: System controller 11: Main scanning drive driver 12: Main scanning motor 13: Sub Scan driver 14: Sub-scan motor 15: Reception buffer memory 16: Image buffer 17: Head driver 18: Input unit 19: Main memory 19a: Mode 1 drive data 19b: Mode 2 drive data 19c: Mode 1 chart Data 19d: Chart data for mode 2 19e: Mode 1 adjustment value 19f: Mode 2 adjustment value 20: Landing position adjustment value calculation unit 21: Temperature detection sensor 22: Gap detection sensor 100: Host computer P: Recording medium

Claims (5)

A recording head capable of recording a plurality of dots by ejecting ink from a plurality of nozzles in a bidirectional movement process in the forward path and the return path along the main scanning direction crossing the recording medium conveyance direction;
Chart recording means for recording a landing position adjustment chart by discharging ink from the nozzles and recording dots in a bidirectional movement process of the recording head in the forward path and the backward path;
Landing position adjusting means capable of adjusting the ink landing position in at least one of the forward path and the return path of the recording head based on an adjustment value of the landing position determined by the user using the landing position adjustment chart. ,
Recording in the first recording mode in which the number of nozzles that eject ink at the same timing among the plurality of nozzles of the recording head is relatively large, and ink is ejected at the same timing among the plurality of nozzles of the recording head. An inkjet printer capable of recording in the second recording mode with a relatively small number of nozzles ,
The chart recording means can record a landing position adjustment chart in at least one recording mode of the first recording mode and the second recording mode,
The landing position adjustment value determined by the user using the landing position adjustment chart in any one of the first recording mode and the second recording mode is received by the landing position adjusting means. And an impact position automatic setting means capable of obtaining and setting an impact position adjustment value in another recording mode based on the accepted impact position adjustment value. .   2. The ink jet printer according to claim 1, further comprising selection means for selecting whether or not the landing position adjustment value in another recording mode is automatically set by the landing position automatic setting means. A distance detecting means for detecting a distance between the nozzle surface of the recording head and the recording medium;
The landing position automatic setting means, when obtaining the adjustment value of the landing position in other recording modes, claim 1, characterized in that it comprises the distance between the nozzle surface and the recording medium of said recording head as a parameter or 2. An ink jet printer according to item 2 . A head temperature detecting means for detecting a head temperature of the recording head or an ambient temperature thereof;
The landing position automatic setting means includes, as a parameter, the head temperature of the recording head detected by the head temperature detection means or the surrounding temperature as a parameter when obtaining an adjustment value of the landing position in another recording mode. The ink jet printer according to claim 1 , 2 or 3 . Having ink temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the ink;
The landing position automatic setting means, when obtaining the adjustment value of the landing position in the other recording modes, according to claim 1-4, characterized in that it comprises a temperature of the ink detected by the ink temperature detecting means as a parameter The inkjet printer in any one.

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